Epigenetic modification of gene expression in cancer cells by terahertz demethylation
Abstract Terahertz (THz) radiation can affect the degree of DNA methylation, the spectral characteristics of which exist in the terahertz region. DNA methylation is an epigenetic modification in which a methyl (CH3) group is attached to cytosine, a nucleobase in human DNA. Appropriately controlled D...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2023-03-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-31828-w |
| _version_ | 1797859990821666816 |
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| author | Hwayeong Cheon Junho K. Hur Woochang Hwang Hee-Jin Yang Joo-Hiuk Son |
| author_facet | Hwayeong Cheon Junho K. Hur Woochang Hwang Hee-Jin Yang Joo-Hiuk Son |
| author_sort | Hwayeong Cheon |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Terahertz (THz) radiation can affect the degree of DNA methylation, the spectral characteristics of which exist in the terahertz region. DNA methylation is an epigenetic modification in which a methyl (CH3) group is attached to cytosine, a nucleobase in human DNA. Appropriately controlled DNA methylation leads to proper regulation of gene expression. However, abnormal gene expression that departs from controlled genetic transcription through aberrant DNA methylation may occur in cancer or other diseases. In this study, we demonstrate the modification of gene expression in cells by THz demethylation using resonant THz radiation. Using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, we observed changes in the degree of global DNA methylation in the SK-MEL-3 melanoma cell line under irradiation with 1.6-THz radiation with limited spectral bandwidth. Resonant THz radiation demethylated living melanoma cells by 19%, with no significant occurrence of apurinic/apyrimidinic sites, and the demethylation ratio was linearly proportional to the power of THz radiation. THz demethylation downregulates FOS, JUN, and CXCL8 genes, which are involved in cancer and apoptosis pathways. Our results show that THz demethylation has the potential to be a gene expression modifier with promising applications in cancer treatment. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-09T21:38:31Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f3e108d4d14d4ce4b6bd1a6b0ef93749 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-09T21:38:31Z |
| publishDate | 2023-03-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-f3e108d4d14d4ce4b6bd1a6b0ef937492023-03-26T11:09:46ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222023-03-0113111210.1038/s41598-023-31828-wEpigenetic modification of gene expression in cancer cells by terahertz demethylationHwayeong Cheon0Junho K. Hur1Woochang Hwang2Hee-Jin Yang3Joo-Hiuk Son4Biomedical Engineering Research Center, Asan Medical CenterDepartment of Genetics, College of Medicine, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and Engineering, Hanyang UniversityDepartment of Pre-Medicine, College of Medicine, Hanyang Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Hanyang UniversityDepartment of Neurosurgery, Seoul National University Boramae Medical CenterDepartment of Physics, University of SeoulAbstract Terahertz (THz) radiation can affect the degree of DNA methylation, the spectral characteristics of which exist in the terahertz region. DNA methylation is an epigenetic modification in which a methyl (CH3) group is attached to cytosine, a nucleobase in human DNA. Appropriately controlled DNA methylation leads to proper regulation of gene expression. However, abnormal gene expression that departs from controlled genetic transcription through aberrant DNA methylation may occur in cancer or other diseases. In this study, we demonstrate the modification of gene expression in cells by THz demethylation using resonant THz radiation. Using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, we observed changes in the degree of global DNA methylation in the SK-MEL-3 melanoma cell line under irradiation with 1.6-THz radiation with limited spectral bandwidth. Resonant THz radiation demethylated living melanoma cells by 19%, with no significant occurrence of apurinic/apyrimidinic sites, and the demethylation ratio was linearly proportional to the power of THz radiation. THz demethylation downregulates FOS, JUN, and CXCL8 genes, which are involved in cancer and apoptosis pathways. Our results show that THz demethylation has the potential to be a gene expression modifier with promising applications in cancer treatment.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-31828-w |
| spellingShingle | Hwayeong Cheon Junho K. Hur Woochang Hwang Hee-Jin Yang Joo-Hiuk Son Epigenetic modification of gene expression in cancer cells by terahertz demethylation Scientific Reports |
| title | Epigenetic modification of gene expression in cancer cells by terahertz demethylation |
| title_full | Epigenetic modification of gene expression in cancer cells by terahertz demethylation |
| title_fullStr | Epigenetic modification of gene expression in cancer cells by terahertz demethylation |
| title_full_unstemmed | Epigenetic modification of gene expression in cancer cells by terahertz demethylation |
| title_short | Epigenetic modification of gene expression in cancer cells by terahertz demethylation |
| title_sort | epigenetic modification of gene expression in cancer cells by terahertz demethylation |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-31828-w |
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